OSU Band Targeted by Penn State Fans - WBNS 10TV
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OSU Band Targeted by Penn State Fans
Penn State University is apologizing for some conduct which took place off the field and before Saturday night's game in State College.
It appears the Ohio State University Marching Band was the target of unsportsmanlike behavior at the hands of some Nittany Lions fans.
Neither school is happy about what happened in Happy Valley.
With nearly 110,000 people attending the game, Penn State officials say it is possible there were "a couple jerks" among the fans.
OSU graduate Evan Mohr says it was much more than that.
"The threat of physical violence, people standing on hood of my car, mud balls being thrown," Mohr said of the environment before the game.
OSU band director Dr. Jon Woods says the band's march towards the stadium got physical.
"I saw a fan pushing their way into the ranks of the band, which is frightening," Dr. Woods said.
His feelings are echoed all across online message boards where Buckeyes say attending Saturday's game was the worst experience they ever had.
One Ohio State band member posted a message saying someone urinated into a bottle and threw the bottle at the band. That is in addition to grabbing, punching, and yelling of profanities the band endured.
Dr. Woods says the conduct definitely crossed the line.
"This was without a doubt the most hostile environment that I've ever experienced at a college football game," the 21-year veteran director told 10TV.
An unofficial website for Penn State shows Lions fans saying they're downright embarrassed by the behavior of fellow fans.
Buckeye fans across the country say they should be.
"One Penn State guy just grabbed another guy and threw him up against the car for no reason," Ohio State fan Matt Snezik said.
OSU's Marching band received a letter of apology Monday from Penn State's president and the school?s band director.
Some Penn State fans are blaming the late-night kickoff for the excessive behavior, saying it gave people more time to get drunk.
Bad Trip: Penn State Apologizes To OSU Marching Band - NBC4 Columbus
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Bad Trip: Penn State Apologizes To OSU Marching Band
TBDBITL Not Allowed To March At Beaver Stadium
UPDATED: 9:56 am EDT October 11, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University band director Jon Woods said Monday that it would be a long time before he considers taking his 250-member band back to Penn State University.
The band performed at Happy Valley but did not march, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported.
Once inside Beaver Stadium, word came that they would not march. They would only stand in formation and dot the "I" during "Script Ohio."
"That's very disappointing whenever you put many hours and time and effort into it," Woods said.
Penn State said the field was soaking wet and the band members might tear it up, Burton reported.
"Our band is on the field 41/2 minutes for pre-game and 71/2 minutes for halftime and Penn State's about the same," Woods said. "Band members can be on the field that long and they really don't do damage to the field like (football) cleats would."
Woods said the rain at Penn State was an excuse. He said he thinks the real reason the band did not march was the rowdy Nittany Lions fans, causing problems before the band made it into the stadium.
"All along the way, from the beginning of that marching to the end, there was verbal abuse," Woods said. "Things were thrown at the band. A beer bottle was thrown and hit somebody. It was very frightening."
Woods said the marching band never had any problems in Happy Valley until last Saturday.
He said he received a formal apology in an e-mail from Penn State on Monday. He said those regrets made him and his students feel a little better.
